US 12,306,076 B2Granted

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for sample cylinder inspection, pressurization, and sample disposal

AssigneeMarathon Petroleum Company LP

InventorsAlex M. Markins, Heath B. Jones, Nicci R. Triche, John J. Langenfeld, Masaru F. Williams, David S. Spence, Jason M. Chauvin, Gregory D. Bender, IV

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Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for enhancing handling of a sample cylinder may include first, second, and third stations, each configured to receive a sample cylinder containing a material sample. The first station may include a first mounting fixture configured to be attached to the sample cylinder, a viewing glass to facilitate inspection of a portion of the material sample, and a first valve configured to remove a portion of the material sample from the sample cylinder. The second station may include a second mounting fixture and a second valve to provide fluid flow between a source of pressurized gas and the sample cylinder, thereby to pressurize the sample cylinder. The third station may include a third mounting fixture configured to be attached to the sample cylinder and a third valve to provide fluid flow between the sample cylinder and ventilation ductwork or a receptable.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A system for enhancing handling of a sample cylinder, the system comprising:

(a) a platform having a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening;
(b) a first station positioned to receive a sample cylinder in a first state in which the sample cylinder contains a material sample, the first station comprising:
(i) a first mounting fixture attached to the platform proximate the first opening and configured to be attached to the sample cylinder;
(ii) an at least partially transparent receptacle configured to be attached to the sample cylinder and facilitate inspection of a portion of the material sample;
and
(iii) a first valve positioned proximate the first mounting fixture and configured to provide fluid flow from the sample cylinder, thereby to remove a portion of the material sample from the sample cylinder;
(c) a second station positioned to receive the sample cylinder in a second state following the first state in which the sample cylinder contains the material sample, the second station comprising:
(i) a second mounting fixture attached to the platform proximate the second opening and configured to be attached to the sample cylinder in the second state;
and
(ii) a second valve positioned proximate the second mounting fixture and configured to provide fluid flow between a source of pressurized gas and the sample cylinder, thereby to pressurize the sample cylinder;
(d) a third station positioned to receive the sample cylinder in a third state following discharge of at least a portion of the material sample from the sample cylinder, the third station comprising:
(i) a third mounting fixture attached to the platform proximate the third opening and configured to be attached to the sample cylinder in the third state;
and
(ii) a third valve positioned proximate the third mounting fixture and configured to provide fluid flow between the sample cylinder and one or more of ventilation ductwork or a receptable;
and
(e) a grounding assembly positioned to electrically ground one or more of a person handling the sample cylinder, the first station, the second station, or the third station, the grounding assembly comprising one or more of:
(i) an electrically grounded connection bus;
(ii) a clamp configured to be attached to one or more of the first station, the second station, or the third station, the clamp being electrically conductive;
(iii) a first cable connected to the clamp and the electrically grounded connection bus, the first cable being electrically conductive;
(iv) a wearable attachment configured to be attached to the person handling the sample cylinder, the wearable attachment being electrically conductive;
or
(v) a second cable connected to the wearable attachment and the electrically grounded connection bus, the second cable being electrically conductive.

19 more elements

A system for enhancing handling of a sample cylinder, the system comprising:

(a) a first station positioned to receive a sample cylinder in a first state in which the sample cylinder contains a material sample, the first station comprising:
an at least partially transparent receptacle configured to be attached to the sample cylinder and facilitate inspection of at least a portion of the material sample;
and
a first valve positioned to provide fluid flow from the sample cylinder, thereby to remove a portion of the material sample from the sample cylinder;
(b) a second station positioned to receive the sample cylinder in a second state following the first state in which the sample cylinder contains the material sample, the second station comprising a second valve positioned to provide fluid flow between a source of pressurized gas and the sample cylinder, thereby to pressurize the sample cylinder;
(c) a third station positioned to receive the sample cylinder in a third state following discharge of at least a portion of the material sample from the sample cylinder, the third station comprising a third valve positioned to provide fluid flow between the sample cylinder and one or more of ventilation ductwork or a receptable;
and
(d) a grounding assembly positioned to electrically ground one or more of a person handling the sample cylinder, the first station, the second station, or the third station, the grounding assembly comprising:
(i) an electrically grounded connection bus;
and
(ii) one or more of:
(aa) a clamp configured to be attached to one or more of the first station, the second station, or the third station, the clamp being electrically conductive;
and a first cable connected to the clamp and the electrically grounded connection bus, the first cable being electrically conductive;
or
(bb) a wearable attachment configured to be attached to the person handling the sample cylinder, the wearable attachment being electrically conductive;
and a second cable connected to the wearable attachment and the electrically grounded connection bus, the second cable being electrically conductive.

13 more elements

A system for enhancing handling of a sample cylinder, the system comprising:

(a) a platform having a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening;
(b) a first station positioned to receive a sample cylinder in a first state in which the sample cylinder contains a material sample, the first station comprising:
(i) a first mounting fixture attached to the platform proximate the first opening and configured to be attached to the sample cylinder;
(ii) an at least partially transparent receptacle configured to be attached to the sample cylinder and facilitate inspection of a portion of the material sample;
and
(iii) a first valve positioned proximate the first mounting fixture and configured to provide fluid flow from the sample cylinder, thereby to remove a portion of the material sample from the sample cylinder;
(c) a second station positioned to receive the sample cylinder in a second state following the first state in which the sample cylinder contains the material sample, the second station comprising:
(i) a second mounting fixture attached to the platform proximate the second opening and configured to be attached to the sample cylinder in the second state;
and
(ii) a second valve positioned proximate the second mounting fixture and configured to provide fluid flow between a source of pressurized gas and the sample cylinder, thereby to pressurize the sample cylinder;
(d) a third station positioned to receive the sample cylinder in a third state following discharge of at least a portion of the material sample from the sample cylinder, the third station comprising:
(i) a third mounting fixture attached to the platform proximate the third opening and configured to be attached to the sample cylinder in the third state;
and
(ii) a third valve positioned proximate the third mounting fixture and configured to provide fluid flow between the sample cylinder and one or more of ventilation ductwork or a receptable;
(e) a base having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
(f) a panel connected to one or more of the base or the platform, thereby to provide a material shield between the base and the platform;
and
(g) a bleed tube connected to the first valve and extending in a direction away from the panel.

15 more elements

A system for enhancing handling of a sample cylinder, the system comprising:

(a) a first station positioned to receive a sample cylinder in a first state in which the sample cylinder contains a material sample, the first station comprising:
(i) an at least partially transparent receptacle configured to be attached to the sample cylinder and facilitate inspection of at least a portion of the material sample;
and
(ii) a first valve positioned to provide fluid flow from the sample cylinder, thereby to remove a portion of the material sample from the sample cylinder;
(b) a second station positioned to receive the sample cylinder in a second state following the first state in which the sample cylinder contains the material sample, the second station comprising a second valve positioned to provide fluid flow between a source of pressurized gas and the sample cylinder, thereby to pressurize the sample cylinder;
(c) a third station positioned to receive the sample cylinder in a third state following discharge of at least a portion of the material sample from the sample cylinder, the third station comprising a third valve positioned to provide fluid flow between the sample cylinder and one or more of ventilation ductwork or a receptable;
(d) a base having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
(e) a panel connected to the base, thereby to provide a protective material shield between the system and a person handling the sample cylinder;
(f) a bleed tube connected to the first station and extending in a direction away from the panel;
and
(g) a vent tube connected to the at least partially transparent receptacle and positioned to provide fluid flow between the at least partially transparent receptacle and ventilation ductwork, thereby to vent gas from the sample cylinder to the ventilation ductwork.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/660,290Filed 10 May 2024 · us provisional application
Priority: 12 May 2023
Published: US 2024/0377287 A114 Nov 2024
Granted: 20 May 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G01N 1/2035
For flowing or falling materials: by deviating part of a fluid stream, e.g. by drawing-off or tapping
G01N 1/2226
In the gaseous state: sampling from a closed space, e.g. food package, head space
G01N 2001/205
By deviating part of a fluid stream, e.g. by drawing-off or tapping: using a valve
G01N 2001/2085
Removable sample bottle: non-pre-evacuated septum closed bottles